Chevy D-Series passes through three generations before auction

To say that every car has a story is not only a bit cliché, but also patently untrue. The beige Toyota Camry that you passed on your way to work today was born an appliance, and will die an appliance. But every once in a while, a story crosses our desks that has a little something extra.

The tiger-hunting Rolls-Royce is one such car, and so is our intrepid intern's prized Packard. This story is about a 1918 Chevrolet D-Series V8 Touring, and a Pennsylvania family.

The D-Series cars were born when Chevy chief William Durant decreed that the company should take a break from low-cost, high-volume cars and build a new V8. In 1917 the D-Series featured a 288 cubic-inch V8 making 55 horsepower. It breathed through a Zenith two-barrel carburetor. The Chevy V8 cost $1,385 when new, quite a sum at the time.

One of those Chevys, a 1918 model year, was sold to man named John Becker of Lititz, Penn., who bought it for his son Elam. Six years later it was dubbed the “Honeymoon Car” after Elam and bride-to-be Grace took the car to Washington D.C. to get married. In 1928 it was put into storage when Elam bought himself his first new car.

The 1918 Chevy V8 sat there, for 21 years until 1949 when Elam had it restored. The Beckers displayed the car at various events and shows, sometimes dressing in period-correct clothing.

Fast forward to 1974. The Beckers were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary and drove the car to the Hershey Fall Meet one last time before passing the car on to their son Warren and his wife Ruth. Warren and Ruth have enjoyed the car for the past 38 years and now finally, it's time to say goodbye.

The 1918 Chevy will go up for auction without reserve at RM's October auction in Hershey, Pennsylvania. It's expected to sell for about $40,000.

The lot includes the original bill of sale from Nash, Studebaker and Chevrolet agent John F. Longenecker, along with vintage documents for batteries, parts and other maintenance trips. It also comes with a selection of photographs from the car's 94-year history.

The car has patina from the 63 years since the last restoration, and it's finished in a great shade of hunter green. Check out www.rmauctions.com for a few more shots of the car and to find bidding info. We're sure it would make a great addition to any Chevy collection.

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